Northampton City Council advances new police station project

NORTHAMPTON - The City Council approved $13.6 million Thursday toward the construction of a police facility and parking garage on Center Street.

The borrowing authorization was a first step toward getting the project under way, allowing the city to fix prices for concrete, steel and other construction materials that are expected to rise in cost. Mayor Mary Clare Higgins was careful to note that the final cost of the project has not been determined.

On Wednesday, the Police Facility Building Committee chose Barr & Barr Inc., of Framingham, as the construction manager at risk for the project. Barr & Barr will serve as general contractor, helping the committee determine the final design and hiring the subcontractors to do the work. The construction manager at risk also guarantees that the cost of the project does not exceed the agreed-upon figure.

The facility will be built alongside the present police station on Center Street. The old station will eventually be demolished to make way for a two-level parking garage. The city hopes to break ground on the project before the end of the year.

In other business, the council heard a presentation by Daniel L. Rosenfeld, the director of communication for the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission, on the Lottery's new game, KENO-to-Go. Northampton is one of only five communities in the state to bar the game, which was introduced in April.

Like the existing KENO game, KENO-to-Go allows players to bet by choosing numbers on a card. While KENO vendors have screens on site showing the results of the game, KENO-to-Go players must check the results on the Lottery's Web site.

Council President James M. Dostal said he invited Rosenfeld to address the council because a number of residents and store owners took issue with the council's original decision. Some city officials reiterated their objections to the game Thursday. Higgins said the formula by which the Lottery distributes its profits to cities and towns penalizes communities such as Northampton that have high property values.

Ward 4 Councilor David J. Narkewicz cited figures showing that Northampton generated more than $15 million in Lottery sales last year and received only $4 million in aid. By comparison, Amherst generated $4.9 million and received $9.6 million from the Lottery, he said.

Rosenfeld told the council that the Legislature, not the Lottery Commission, decides how to distribute the proceeds from the games. He said the Lottery expects to make $911 million this year, some of which will go to Northampton.

During the public comment session prior to the meeting, Gaurang H. Patel, who owns Bird's Store in Florence, asked the council to reconsider its stance on KENO-to-Go.

"My customers tell me that they don't like bars and restaurants to play KENO," he said. "They prefer a convenience store. We are losing our money to surrounding towns."

Rosenfeld said that 24 businesses in Northampton stand to earn money from the new game. Vendors make $800 to $900 a year by selling tickets for KENO-to-Go, he said.